Hurricane Matthew

At this time, Miami-Dade County is monitoring Hurricane Matthew.

Please visit our Emergency website for the latest information on openings and closings in Miami-Dade County.

Water Supply

Today we are faced with a dilemma that has been brewing for some time – a limit to our water supply. The very nature of our water supply requires that each of us become diligent in the protection and conservation of this most important resource.

It may seem odd that South Florida would have to worry about "not enough" water. After all, we get about five feet of rain on any given year! Some places in the country would take a decade to see that much water. Summertime in South Florida means rain – lots of it. So how is it possible that we could run out of water?

We live in a land of extremes – flash floods can dump over a foot of rain in a single day while droughts can last for years. The first step in understanding our water supply to to learn about the water cycle.

Water managers keep a close eye on canal levels and the flow of fresh water through South Florida. The South Florida Water Management District is charged with the complicated task of making sure there’s enough water to feed the needs of a burgeoning urban community, agricultural needs, and the water needs of the Everglades while also making sure there isn’t too much water. Too much stormwater in South Florida can cause floods, drown crops, and even damage the health of our environment.

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